Plate-lifting mechanism for rolling mills



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. MCCABE PLATE LIFTING MEGHANISM FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June 3.

May 19, 1925.

May 19, 1925. 1,538,251

T. MccABE PLATE LIETING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MILLS 6 Sheets-Sheen'l 2 Filed' June s, 1922 IN VENTOR Thomas fsabe ATTORNEYS may 19, 1925. 1,538,251

l T. MCCABE PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June 3. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 BMM May 19, 1925. TMCCABE PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MILLS Filed June s. 1922 e sheets-sl'et s ZNVENTOR Tha/2705 MSCobe HTToR/vm/s May 19, 1925. 1,538,251

T. MCCABE PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MILLS ,4T TOP/v5 YS Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES THOMAS MCCABE, OF YORKVILLE, OHIO.

PLATE-LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING- MILLS.

Application filed `Tune 3,

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MCCABE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yorkville, Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plate-Lifting Mechanisms for Rolling Mills, of which the following is a full,'clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the s'am'e. i This invention relates to a plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills of the same general type as the platelifting mechanism described in my U. S. Patent No. 1,418,815, dated June 6, 1922, namely, a plate lifting mechanism that comprises a receiving table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill for receiving a rolled plate as it is discharged from said rolls, and vertically movable plate lifters arranged at the opposite sides of said table and adapted to engage the plate on the table and move it upwardly intosuch a position'that it can be grasped and pulled forwardly over the top roll of the mill by the operator standing at the front of the mill.

The main object of my present inventio is to provide a plate lifting mechanism of the general type referred to which is so constructed that it can be easilymoved into such a position that it does not interfere with workmen engaged in repairing or removing the rolls of the mill.

Ano-ther object is to provide a plate lifting mechanism of the type that comprises platelifters which move upwardly and downwardly, that is constructed in such a way that the jar or back -lash on the gears of the operating mechanism for the plate litters will be absorbed when tle plate lifters come. to rest either in their elevated position or in their depressed position.

Another object is to provide an operating mechanism of novel construction for tilting 45 'the receiving table so as to discharge a plate therefrom, and other objects of my invention' are to reduce the size and simplify the construction of a plat'e lifting mechanism of the general type disclosed in my pending application previously 4referred to.

To this end I have devised a late lifting mechanism for-rolling mills, wiich, briefly described, consists of a receiving table adapted to be arranged at the rear of the rolls of a plate rolling mill, a plate lifting means for lifting a plate from said table and 1922. Seria1 No. 565,730.

moving it upwardly into such a position that it can be pulled forwardly over the top roll of the mill by the operator in charge of the mill, and means for enabling said table and plate lifting means to be moved bodily into such a position that ample space is providedv at the rear of the rolls of the mill for workmen who are repairing said rolls or removing them from` the supporting frame of the mill. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein illustrated, the receiving table and the late lifting means are carried by a movab e supporting frame which is constructed in such a manner that it can be tilted rearwardly so as to carry the receiving table and the plate lifting means out of the zone at the rear of the rolls of the mill in which the workmen stand during the operation of removing the rolls, but I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to a mechanism of the particular construction herein illustrated, as my broad idea contemplates the use of any shiftable supportin structure for the receiving table and the p ate lifting means that can be moved quickly and easily into one position so as to arrange said elements in an'inoperative position out of the way of workmen standing behind the rolls of the mill, and thereafter restored easily to its normal position, so as to arrange said elements inoperative relationship. with the rolls of the mill.

, Figure l is a top lan View of a plate lifting mechanism em odying my present invention arranged in operative relationship wit-h a rolling mill. l

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 2-.2 of Figure-1, looking in the direction indicated by.

the arrows.

Figure 3, lis a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken ori-the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the Karrows `with a portion of the rolling mill broken away. l Fi ure 4 is a front elevational View of the ate lifting mechanism, the rollin/g -mifll not ing shown.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view ofthe plate lifting mechanism, partly in vertical transverse section.

mem er on the crank shaft and a portion of the constantly rotating pulley that actuates same.

' Figure 6 is a top plan view of theclutchv l Figure 7 is a transverse sectional vien7 of said clutch member.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of said clutch member.

Fi re 9 is a top plan view of said clutch mem er.

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the plate lifting mechanism, taken on the line 10-10 of Flgure 1, looking. in 'the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A and A designate the top and bottom rolls of a conventional-plate rolling mill, B designates a receiving table that is normally arranged at the rear side of said rolls with its front end positioned in close proximity to same so as to receive a plate that is discharged from the rolls, and C and C designate vertically movableplate lifters arranged at opposite sides of the table B and adapted to be moved upwardly into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3, so as to lift a plate from the receiving table and move said plate' upwardly into such a position that the operator standing in front of the mill can grasp the front end of said plate and pull it forwardlly over the top roll of the mill.

The receiving table, the plate lifters and the mechanism that is used for actuating said elements are carried by a supporting frame which is mounted in such a manner that it can be tilted rearwardly into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, in the event it becomes necessary to repair or remove the rolls A and A of the mill. The supporting frameV of the machine herein illust-rated is composed of four verticallydisposed frame members 1 tied together by suitable transversely-disposed tie `men1bers and pivotally mounted on two pedestals or uprights 2 arranged at the rear end of a stationary base plate 3, as shown in Figure 5, said frame members 1 being arranged in pairs at opposite sides of themachine, as shown inv Figure 1, so that the receiving table and the plate lifters at the opposite sides of same will be positioned between the two center frame members.

Plate lifters.

Both of the plate lifters are of the sane construction, and therefore, I will refer only to the plate lifter G in describing the construction and operation of the plate lifting means of the machine. The plate lifter ported Cis of substantially the same length as the receiving table B and comprises a horizontally-disposed plate receiving portion that proJects laterally from one side ofa vert-ically-disposed portion 4 that extends upwardly ,above the horizontally-disposed plate receiving portion, as shown in Figure 5, so as to serve as a side guide for the plate that is discharged from the rolls of the mill onto the receiving table B, the plate lifters C and C/ being tied together at their rear ends by a transversely-disposed rod 5 connected to upwardly-projecting arms 6 on said plate lifters. The front end of the plate lifter C is supported by a swinging link 7 provided lat its upper end with a counterweight'S and having its lower end pivotally connected to the vertically-disposed portion 4 of the plate lifter, preferably by means of a rigid pin 9 in said porl tion 4 that turns in a bearing in the lower end of said link 7. The reali` end of said plate lifter is supported by a swinging link 10 provided at its upper end with a counterweight 11 and having its lower end pivotally connected by a horizontally-disposed shaft l2 to a movable bearing 13 that is slidingly mounted in an oblong-shaped guideway 13 formed in the .vertically-disposed portion 4 of the ,late lifter, said shaft 12 being suplhy a block 14 carried'by thelink. 10 and connected-to same in such a way that it can be raised and lowered so as to increase or decrease the effective length of the link, and thus enable the rear end of the plate lifter to be moved higher than the front endof the plate lifter, so as to arrange the plate lifter in such a position that it is inclined downwardly towards the rolls of the mill. In other words,if it is desired to have the plate lifters inclined downwardly, more or less. when said plate lifters are arranged in elevated position, the blocks 14 on the links 10 are moved outwardly more lustrated the block 14 is adjustahlv connected to the link 10 by fastening devices 15, as shown in Figure 5, that can be moved vertically in elongated slots'plG formed in a machined surface on the link 10 on which the block 14 slides and an adjusting screw 17 is arranged in the lower end of the link so as to facilitate accurate adjustment of said block. The front link 7 swings ietween two of the frame members 1 at one side of the machine and is rigidly connected to a short, horizontally-disposed shaft 18 that is journaled in bearings 1S) connected to the upper edges of said frame members, the rear link 10 also being arranged between said frame members and being rigidly connected to a horizontally-disposed shaft .2O that is journaled in bearings 21 on said frame members, The shafts18 and "20 y are provided with rigid pinions or gears 22 and 23, respectively, that mesh with a segmental-shaped rack 24 on the upper edge of an oscillating actuating member 25 that is rigidly connected to a horizontally-disposed shaft 26 arranged transversely of the machine and journaled in bearings in the frame members 1, and means is provided for rocking said shaft 26 'irst in one direction so as tocause the rack 24 to co-operate with the pinions 22and 23 to swing the links 7 and 10 lin a direction to move the plate lifter C upwardly into the position shown in broken lines inv Figure 3, and for thereafter rocking said shaftl 26 in the reverse direction so as to restore said plate lifter to its normal positioninhorizontal alignment with the receiving table B, the pinions that are associated with the links which sustain the other plate liften C being operated by a separate actuating member 25 rigidly connected to the shaft 26 so as to ca-useboth plate lifters to move in unison.

In the "machine herein illustrated the means for rocking the actuating members 25 consists of a crank shaft 27 arranged at the rear end of the base plate 3, as shown in Figuie 5 and provided with a crank arm 28 that is connected by means of a link 29 to an arm 30 on the rock shaft 26 to which the actuating members 25 are connected, as shown in Figure 10, said crank' shaft 27 being driven by a pulley 31 which is adapted to be connected to said crank shaft by a clutch under control of the operator standing in front of the rolling mill. The pulley7 31 is driven by a belt 32 that passes over a pulley 33 on a transverselydisposed drive shaft 34, as shown in Figure 3, that can be driven in any preferred manner, and the clutch that I prefer to use for connecting the pulley 31 withthe crank shaft 27 consists of aclutch member 35 rigidly connected to the crank shaft 27 and provided with a spring-actuated plunger 36 arranged in one side of same in such a manner that it will project laterally and engageone of a plurality of clutch jaws 37 formedY 4on the hub 31 of the pulley 31 when said plunger 36 is in its o erative position, namely, projected outwar ly beyond the side face of the clutch member 35, as 'shown in Figure 6. The plunger 36 is normally held retracted by one or the other of a air of pivotally mounted bell-crank-shape trip-l ping dogs 38 and 38 carried by one of the frame membersl, as shown in Figure 3, and arranged so that the short arms of same he in a vertical plane between the side face of the clutch member 35 and the ends of the clutch jaws 37-on the hub of the pulley 31. The plunger 36 has gia head 36 whose upper edge is beveled at 36", as shown l1n Flgure 9, so that when it strikes against the short arm of one of the tripping dogs 38 or 3S, it will be moved inwardly into its retracted position out of engagement with the clutch jaw 37 on the hub of the pulley 31. The tripping do s 38 and 38 are so arranged that they wi operate on the plunger 36 of the clutch member 35 at two diierent points and are connected together at their upper ends by a link 39 whose front end is joined to a rod 40 Vthat leads forwardly to a bell crank lever 41 which is, in turn, connected by means of scf side of the clutch 35 and the ends of lthe jaws 37 on the hub of the pulley 31. When the foot treadle 43 is depressed so as to move the hook-shaped ends of the tripping dogs38 and 38'1 outwardly or out. of thel Space between the clutch member 35 and the ends of the jaws on the hub of the pulley 31, the spring 36c'that is combined with the plunger 36 immediately pushes said plunger outwardly into such a position that it will engage one of the clutch jaws 37 on the pu l ey 31, thereby causing the crank shaft 27 to make a half revolution and come to rest. when the plunger 36 in the clutch member 35 strikes against the hook-shaped end of the other tripping dog, the engagement of said dog with the inclined surface 36b on,

the head of the plunger causing the plunger i to be retracted or disengaged from the clutch jaw on the pulley 31. In operating the -clutch the operator merely pressesnlown on the foot treadle 43 and then immediately releases said treadle so that the spring 44 will restore the tripping dogs to their'operative position, in the path of the head of the plunger' 36 on the clutch member 35.

In order to absorb the shock produced by the sudden stopping of the crank shaft 27, or, in other words, to break the sudden jar or back lash on the segmental racks of the actuating members25 and the pinions with which said racks cooperate, when the' plate litters come to rest in their elevated position and come to .rest in tlieir depressed. position, the shafts 18 and 20 at the op-l posite sides of the machine to which the pinions 22 and 23, respectively, are con'- nected are provided with arms 45, asJ shown in Figure 3,4 that are connected together by coiled springs 46. r

The purpose of equipping the links 7 and 10 with counterweights is' to assist the actuating members 25 to raise and lower the plate litters, and while these counterweights can be constructed in various ways, I prefer to construct each counterweight from a casting formed as an integral part of the link Reccm'n g table.

The receiving table B preferably comprises a horizontally-disposed top portion provided with a depending web 48 that is equipped at its rear end with a horizontallydisposed sleeve 49 which turns on a trans-- versely-disposed shaft 50 carried by the frame members 1, the front end of saidl table normally resting on a transverselydisposed tie rod .50a that is connected to the .'o center members 1 of the tilting frame of the machine. A rigid' arm 51 that projects forwardly from one end of the sleeve 4i), as shown in broken lines in Figure 11 and in full lines in Figure 5, is connected by means of a link 52 to an arm 53 on a horizontally-disposed shaft 54 which is journaled in the frame members 1, and means is provided for rocking said shaft 54 so as to tilt the front end of the receiving table upwardly when it is desired to discharge a plate from the rear end of said table. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the means for rocking the shaft 54 consists of an arm 55 on said shaft, shown in Figure 12, a link 56 leading forwardly from said arm and pivotally connected by a bolt 57 to a link 58 which leads forwardly to a hand-operated lever 59 arranged in such a position that it can be grasped by the operator standing at the front of the mill, the link 56 being supported by a swinging link 60, which, in

turn, is loosely mounted on a transverselydisposed tie rod 61 connected to the frame members of the machine. lVlienit becomes necessary to tilt the movable supporting frame of the machine, Aas hereinafter described, the bolt 57 is removed so as to disconnect the links 56 and 58 and permit the link 56 to move with the supporting frame.

Mechanism fm1 tilting the movable supporting frame.

pair of frame members 1 at the left hand side of the machine with a sleeve 62, shown at the right of Figure 5, that turns freely in one of the uprights 2, said sleeve being rigidly connected to said frame members by keys and by ring nuts 63 screwed onto the opposite ends of the sleeve. rl`he exterior of said sleeve is machined so that it will turn freely in the pedestal 2 and the interior of said sleeve is machined so that it will serve as a bearing for the crank shaft 27, the outer end of said crank shaft being supported by a pedestal 22t on the base plate.

The pair of frame members 1 at the other side of the machine are rigidly connected at their rear ends to a horizontally-disposed shaft 64, shown in broken lines in Figure 5, that turns freely in the other pedestal 2 on the base plate, said shaft 64 being arranged in longitudinal alignment with the sleeve 62, so as to cause the movablesupporting frame of the machine that carries the receiving table and the plate lifters to swing or oseillate about a horizontal axis passing through the center of the shaft 64 and the vcrank shaft 27 thatturns in the sleeve 62.

The mechanism that is used for tilting the supporting frame upwardly and rearwardly into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2 when it becomes necessary to repair or remove the rolls of the mill preferably 'consists of a manually-operable means and a power driven means. The manuallyoperable frame tilting means herein illustrated consists of a vertically-disposed shaft 65 journaled in a bearing 66 on the base plate and provided with a hand wheel 67 and With a Worm 68 that meshes with a worm gear 69 rigidly connected to the outer end of the shaft 64, previously referred to, which is rigidly connected to the frame members-1 at the right hand side of the machine. By turning the hand wheel 67 in one direction the worm 68 will co-operate with the worm gear 69 to tilt the supporting frame upwardly and rearwardly, and by turning said hand wheel in the opposite direction, said worm and worm gear will cooperate with each other to restore the supporting frame toits normal position at the rear of the rolls of the mill.

The power driven means that I prefer to use for-bodily shifting the support ing frame into and out of operative relationship with the i'olls of the mill consists of a pair of friction disks 70 rigidly connected to the transversely-disposed drive shaft 34 of the machine and arranged in spaced rclation, as shown in Figure 4, a shaft 71, shown in broken lines in Figure 2, arranged at rightangles to the drive shaft 3l and provided at its front end' with a friction wheel 72 that is adapted to he moved into engagei'iieiit with one or the other of the friction disks 70, and a beveled gear 73 on the rear end of the shaft 71 that meshes with a beveled gear 74 secured to the shaft 65 previously referred to that carries the worm which meshes with the worm gear 68. The shaft 71 is journaled in a rockable bearing 75 on the base plate of the machine that is adapted to be ,swung to the right when it is desired to arrange the friction wheel 72 in engagement" with one of the friction disks 7() and swungto the left when it is desired to arrange said friction wheel 72 in engagement with the other friction disk. The bearing 75 is provided with an operating handle 76 that projects upwardly from same, and springs 77 are combinedwith said handle 76, as shown in Figure 4;, so as to normally maintain the bearing 75 insuch a position that the friction wheel 72 does not contact with either of the friction disks 70. If it is desired to tilt the supporting frame that carries the receiving table and plate lifters into the position shown in brokenl lines in Figure 2, the handle 76 ismoved in one direction so as to rock the bearing 75, and thus cause the friction wheel 72 to be engaged with one of the friction disks 70, thereby causing the shaft 7l to' rotate and impart movement tothe worm shaft 65 in a direction to swing the supporting frame upwardly and rearwardly. When it is desired to restore said supporting 'frame-to its normal position the handle 76 is moved in the opposite direction so as to cause the friction wheel 72 to yengage the other friction disk on the` drive shaft, thus causing the shaft 71 to revolve in the oppo site direction, and impart rotary movement. to the worm shaft 65 in a direction to cause the supporting frame to move forwardlyand downwardlyinto its normal position at the rear of the rolls of the` mill. The friction disks and friction wheel just referred to and the other parts that are associated with same/ are protectedv by a horizontally-disposed floor member 78 on which the workmen j stand during the yoperation of removing -orrepairing the rolls of the mill, said ioor member having a slot insame up through which the operating handle 76 of the tilting mechanism projects.

Operation, of machine.

Normally, the plate lifters C and 4C and the receivingr table B are arranged in a' horizontal position at the rear of the rolls of the mill so that a plate which is discharged rearwardly from said rolls will pass onto the receiving table. After the plate has passed through the rolls of the mill the operator standing at the front of the mill depresses the foot treadle 43, thereby causing the cranky shaft 27 to revolve and turn the rock shaft 26 in a direction to cause the actuating mem bers 25 thereon to turn the pinion shafts 18 and 20 in a direction tomove the plate lifters C and Ccupwardly int-o the posltion shown inbroken lines-in Figure 3, said plate lifters coming-to' rest automatically when the crank shaft '27 ,hasmadeA a half lrevolution. The

operator then grasps the front end of the plate supported by the plate lifters and pulls said plate forwardly over the top roll of the mill, and he also depresses the foot treadle 43 so as to cause the crank shaft 27 to make another half revolution, and thus rock the actuating members 25 in the opposite direction back lto normal position, thereby causing the plate lifters to be moved downwardly into approximately horizontal alignment with the receiving table. i v

'If it is desired to tilt the front end of the receiving table B upwardly so as to discharge at plate from the rear end of said receiving table, the' operator pulls forwardlyY on the hand lever 59, thereby rocking the shaft 54 in a direction to cause the front end of the receiving table to move upwardly.

If it becomes necessary to repair or remove the rolls A and A ofthe mill, the movable supporting frame of the machine that carries the receiving table and the plate lifters can be tilted upwardly and rearwardly into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2, either by manually7 turning the worm shaft 65, or by manipulating the lever 76 in the proper direction, so as to transmit rotary movement to said worm shaft from the drive shaft 3l of the machine. After the work on the rolls of the mill has been completed the supporting frame and the parts carried thereby `are restored to their normalposition either -by manually turning the worm shaft 65in-the proper d1rection,'or by shifting the controlling lever 76 in the opposite direction so as to connect up the shaft 71 with the friction disk on the ydrive shaft 34 that is 'used to restore the supporting-frame to its normal position.

In addition to the fact that thereceiving table', the plate lifters and the mechanism that is associated withsaid elements can be moved easily into and out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mill, my present plate lifting mechanism is comp'act and inexpensive to manufacture, as it is equipped with relatively small counterweights that travel between the frame members of the machine and it is equipped with a simple form of operating mechanism for the plate lifters that is constructed in such a way that the shock or back lash on the co-operating toothed elements that raise and lower the plate lifters will be absorbed automatically when the plate lifters come to rest either in their elevated position or in their depressed position.

- Havin thus described my. invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v v

1. A plate-lifting mechanism for rolling mills, com rising plate lifterslarranged .at the rear of) the rolls of the mili, means for actuating said plate lifters, and mea/ns. for enabling the plate lifters and the actuating ymeans for same to be moved bodily u -the front of the mill, and means for enabling said mechanism to be tilted upwardly and yrearwardly into a position wherein it does not obstruct the space at the rear of the rolls inv which workmen stand during the operation of repairing or removing the rolls of the mill.

3. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprisinglplate lifters arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, an operating means for raising and lowering said plate li-fters, and a movable supporting structure for carrying said plate lifters and said operating means and adapted to be tilted upwardly and rearwardly for the purpose described.

4. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a receiving table .arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, means for lifting a plate from said table and moving it into such a position that it can be pulled forwardly over the top roll of the mill, and means for bodily shifting said table and plate lifting means into and out of operative relationship with the 'rolls of the mill.

5. A plate lifting mechanism' for-rolling mills, comprising ay plate lifting means arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, and a tiltable sup orting structure that carries said plate hfting means and which is adapted to be moved so. as to shift said plate lifting meansinto and out of operative relationshi with therolls of 'the mill.

6. A p ate lifting mechanism for rollingv and moving said plate upwardly, a movable supportingstructure that carries said table and plate lifting means,`and means for bodily shifting said supporting structure into and out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mill. f

7. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, an oscillating frame that carries said means, and means for actuating said frame so as to shift said plate lifting means into and out of operative relationship with said rolls.

8. A plate lifting mechanism ,for rolling mills, comprising mechanism arranged at the rear ofthe rolls of thefmill for receiving a plate discharged from the rolls and moving' the plate upwardly into such a position that it can be grasped by the operator standing at the front of the mill, a movable frame that carries said mechanism, and means for tilting said frame rearwardly so as to arrange said mechanism in a position where it does not interfere with workmen engaged in repairing or removing the rolls of the mill.

9. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate receiving table, a plate lifting means adapted to engage a plate on said table and move said plate upwardly, a movable supporting structure arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill which carries said table and plate lifting means, and means for moving said supporting structure into one position wherein the parts carried. by same are out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mill and for thereafter returning said supporting structure to its normal position at the rear of the rolls.

10.'.A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a swinging frame arranged at the rear of the rolls that carries said plate lifting means, means for lswinging said frame about lts axis of movement, and a manually-operable means and a mechanically-operable means for actuating said frame moving means.

11. 'A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a tiltable frame arranged at the rear of 'the rolls of the mill that carries said plate lifting-means, and a manually-operable means for effectmg the movement ofsaid frame into and out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mlll.

l2. A plate lifting mechanism' for rolling i mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a tiltable frame arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill that carries said plate liftmg means, and a power-o erated means for effecting the movement o said frame into and out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mill. l. l

13. A plate lifting mechanismfor rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a movable frame that carries said means, a stationary supportingl structure on which said frame is pivotally mounted, and a worm and worm gear foroscillating said frame about its` axis of movement so as to shift said plate lifting means into and out of operative relationship with the rolls of the mill.

14. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a movable frame arranged at the rear of. the rolls of the mill that carries said plate lifting means, a stationary supporting structure onwhich said frame is pivotally mounted in such a manner that saidfframe can lli) betilted upwardly and rearwardly away from the rolls of the mill, and means for tilt-ing said frame. i I 15. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate liftingmeans, a movable frame arranged at the rear' of the rolls of the mill that carries said plate liftingmeans, a stationary supporting structure on which said frame is pivotally mounted in such a manner that said frame can be tilted upwardly and rearwardly away from the rolls of the mill, gearing for tilting said frame, a driving means, and means for enabling said gearing to be connected with said driving means so as to tilt the frame into an inoperative position and for thereafter being connected with said driving means so as to restore the frame to its normal position.

16. A plate lifting' mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a movable frame arranged at the rear'of the rolls of the mill that carries said plate lifting,.means, a stationary supporting structure on which said frame is pivotally mounted in such a manner that said frame can be tilted upwardly and rearwardly away from 'the rolls of the mill, gearing for tilting-Said frame, a drive shaft provided with a plurality of driving devices, and means for enabling said gearing to be connected with one of said driving devices when it is desired to tilt said frame into an inoperative position and for enabling said gearing to be connected with the other driving device when it is desired to restore said frame to its normal position.

17. A plate rlifting mechanism-for rolling mills, comprising a plate lifting means, a movable frame arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill that carries said plate lifting means, a stationary supporting structure on which said frame is )ivotally mounted in such a manner that said frame can be tilted upwardly and rearwardly away from the rolls of the mill, gearing for tilting said frame, a drive shaft provided with a pair of friction disks, a friction wheel operatively connected with said gearing, and means for enabling saidfriction wheel to be moved into engagement with one of said disks to cause said fra-me to be tilted into an inoperative position\and to thereafter be moved into engagement with the other disk, so as to cause said frame to be restored to its normal position.

ating members are connected, and a crank shaft connected bya' link to an arm on said rock shaft. i

plate liftingmechanism for rolling. 'machines comprising plate lifters arr-an e at the rear of the rolls ofthe mill, mec a-` plate lifters and when it is desired to thereafter depress said plate lifters.

20. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising plate lifters, means for raising and lowering said plate lifters comprising oscillating actuating members, a rock shaft to which said? actuating members areconnected, a crank shaft directly connected with said rock shaft, a constantly rotating driving member, a clutch for connecting said driving member with said crank shaft, and tripping devicesundercontrol of the `operator in charge of the machine for causing said clutchto become operative and to be thereafterrendered inoperative after the crank shaftV has made a half revolution.

21. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising plate lifters, an operating means for said plate lifters comprising oscillating actuating members, segmental racks on said vmembers and pinions meshing with said racks, means for operating said actuating members so as to raise and lower the plate lifters, and means for' absorbing the shock or jar on said racks and pinions when `said plate lifters come to rest either intheir elevated or de ressed position.

22. A plate ifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising late lifters, swinging links that carry said'plate lifters, pinions joined rigidly to said links, oscillating seg- Amental racks meshing withsaid pinions forv moving said links so as to raise and lower said plate `lifters, and means for absorbing the shock or jar on said pinions and racks due to sudden stopping of said plate lifters.

23. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising plate lifters, a' counterweighted mechanism for raising and lowering said plate lifters comprising oscillating segmenta racks and pinions that mesh with same, and means for absorbing the' shock or jar on said racks and inions due to sudden stopping of the late lifters. p 4 y 24. A plate li ing mechanism for rolling mills, comprising plate lifters, counter'- weighted links that carry said plate lifters,l shafts rigidly connected with said links and provided with pinions,oscillating segmentalv racks meshing with said pinions, and arms on said shafts connectedv witl'r s ringsl in ,such a manner that they will a sorbfthe shock or jar on said racks and pinions caused by sudden stopping of the plate litters.

25. A plate liting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a receiving table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, vertically-movable plate litters arranged at opposite sides of said table, a supporting frame comprising a pair of parallel frame members arranged at each side of said table, swinging links carried by said supporting frame and pivotally connected to said plate litters, counterweights on said links that travel between the pairs of frame members, -and actuating members for said links" arranged between the pairs of frame members at the opposite sides of the machine.

26. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a receiving table arranged at'the rear of the rolls of the mill, a frame comprising pairs of frame members arranged at opposite sides of said table, a pair of counterweighted swinging links arranged betweeiiach pair of frame members, plate lifters arranged at opposite sides of said receiving table and pivotally connected to said links, and -an oscillating actuating member for each pair of links arranged between the pair of frame members between which the links travel.

27. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising a plate receiving table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, vertically-movable plate lifters arranged at opposite sides of said table, a horizontallydisposed shaft, a sleeve on said table journaled on said shaft, an arm rigidly connected to said sleeve, and a system of links and levers extending forwardlyto an operating device at the front of the mill for tilting said table sol as to discharge a plate therefrom.

E28. A plate lifting mechanism for rollino' mills, comprising a receiving table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the mill, verticallymovableyplate lifters arranged at opposite sides 0f said table for movinga plate upwardly into position to be grasped by the operator standing at the front of the mill, a counterweighted operating mechanism for raising and lowering said plate litters, a rockable frame that carries said table, plate lifters and operating mechanism for the plate lifters, means for tilting said table to discharge a plate therefrom, and means for yenabling said frame to be moved bodily into a position where it does not interfere with workmen engaged in repairing or removing the rolls of the mill.

29. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, comprising platelifters arranged at the ar of the rolls of the mill, a pair of swinging links combined with each of said platelifters for raising and lowering the same, and adjustable connections between the plate litters and the links which support one end of the plate lifters.

30. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling mills, com rising plate lifters arranged at the` rear o the rolls of the mill, means 'for moving said plate litters upwardly into such aposition that the front ends of same are inclined downwardly towards the top roll of the mill, and means for enabling the angle of said plate lifters to'be changed so as to vary the'downward tilt of said plate litters.

THOMAS MCCABE. 

